Chapter Text
The warrior of light landed just outside the gates of U’dah on the back of his beloved dragon. He was overflowing with nostalgic memories. Years ago, he exited those great gates from the very streets he stood upon when he started his adventures. From heavens and back he returned. He inhaled the dry hot air and exhaled a great relaxing breath. No biting cold of the mountains, or damp sea air, and no eye-stinging moon dust. Just predictable sand and sun. He sprung off Ehll Tou’s back, who gazed at the bright vista with wide curious eyes.
The red dragoness Ehll Tou heard tales of this lovely commercial hub. The view as they approached left her mind to wonder. It was a journey she elected to take rather than just aetherport. Her curiosity in anthropography demanded that she get to view the changing landscapes herself. Glimpsing down at how man carved out lives in such drastic environments filled her ever-curious mind with more questions. Dragonkind could learn a lot about harvesting, cultivating, and trade.
“You’re right this place is amazing!” Ehll Tou trilled with excitement, “There are so many humans living in the desert. No wonder you love this place. The buildings blend into the environment and the sun fills me with vigor.” She subconsciously shook some dust out of the crevices of her scales.
“It’s a home of sorts,” The warrior said smiling brightly. A gentle hand patted her on her wet snout, wiping away some sand that stuck. “And it wasn’t always like this. When I first arrived, encampments crawled along the outer walls. The result of the calamity. It took years for them to find a proper home from the destruction.”
The dragoness cooed and nestled her head next to his. “Every place your aether contacted improved exponentially. From my perspective, no scars remain.”
“Come on stop that. Bad enough I receive letters endlessly singing my praises.” Despite his objections, he caressed the dragon’s cheek with the back of his hand. “We should take precautions on how to behave in this city. The people here love their traditions and holier-than-thou merchants. Best to not step on any toes or lalafells.”
“Step on one lalafell and I never hear the end of it. I was still new to this evolution.” She stomped a few times with her massive talons demonstrating her control and avoided a beetle that skittered across the road. “I’ve grown quite dexterous in this lovely form over the years.”
“And don’t sign any deals with them either. They’d sooner sell their mother for a pouch of gil if given the chance.” He looked up at the gates then back at Ehll. In a low voice, he whispered, “Don’t tell any of them that though.”
She chuffed out laughter at the thought, “I thought dragons were seen as the gold-loving ones.”
“We should secure an inn before it gets too late. The adventurers always wait until the last moment to procure a room.”
Up the great stone staircase, they went entering the city. Visitors quickly stepped to the side and citizens stopped their mouths agape. Ehll Tou did her best practice at smiling at the humans. Observers took a more terrified step back. She promptly stopped and focused on her strides to keep next to her consort who was cautiously eyeing the crowd. His vigilance never ceased even on his vacation. Unfortunately, everyone stared in their direction. Being a popular figure dressed in simple garbs may have worked but…
“Please secure your mount in the city stables!” A deep voice exclaimed. The silver-blue-skinned man stood a mountain over the warrior. His equipment marked him as a member of the city’s Brass Blades.
Ehll Tou turned her nose up at the man. The audacity. Even the elezen in Gridania had more respect for dragons than this lot. Even if they talked her ears to bleed asking about dragon wisdom and history that would test even the great elders.
“D-do w-what he says,” said a shivering lalafell guard. So small he was barely visible behind the other guard’s armored boot.
The warrior of light clinched his fist holding himself from just pummeling the fool in the street. In a moment of hesitation, the overprotective man let out a deep relaxing breath and walked toward the man. He stabbed the big guy in his chest with an index finger, “She’s a dragon. Not some feather-brained chocobo.”
The man rubbed the sore spot through his tunic. “I don’t bloody care if it’s a dragon, an elephant, or a bleeding malboro! Mounts go to the stable!”
The commotion drew ever more eyes to the city gates. Terrified whispers about a dragon in the city rippled through the crowd. A select few recognized the dragon’s handler. It wasn’t long till there was a cat call from a miqo’te dancer between the murmurings. Accusations of being the hero caused him to cup his hand to hide his face from half the crowd. He really didn’t want to spend his precious little free time being harassed by the public.
Ehll Tou bared her teeth. She could feel her lover’s frustration. “Enough! Let us pass!”
The shout sent the large man to take a step back tripping over the lalafell. He landed on his ass stunned. “It speaks common?!”
“I’m a dragon, our kind speak common!” She stomped her talons into the smooth stone road and crossed her arms in a human manner of annoyance. A feat that only lasted a moment as she smiled marveling at her show of human emotion.
A trio of guards approached the commotion telling the group of loiterers to move out of the way. Upon seeing the dragon and the two guards cowering on the ground the men grabbed their weapons.
“What’s going on here!” The leader shouted. After a brief inspection, he relaxed, dropping the attacking stance. “No one told me you’d arrive!”
The warrior squinted trying to place the hyur. But with all the faces and names of his past, it eluded him yet again. He played it off, smiling and waving at the guy, “I’m on vacation, sadly I’m being hounded by the guards, again.”
“You should have warned us you’d be coming,” the brass blade captain motioned to the guards to break up the voyeurs. “We would have set up an escort.”
“I didn’t think my garbs would put me at the center of attention.”
The captain was transfixed on the red dragon. A small dragon but it was indeed a real dragon. “You can’t blame them. You did walk through the city with a dragon.”
“My name is Ehll Tou,” She remarked, rolling her large, tiger’s eye-colored orbs.
The captain shook his head in disbelief and chuckled to himself. “What brings you to Ul’dah anyway? Must be something special.”
“I wanted to see the city for myself. My consort weaved words of wonder of the lovely alabaster walls and the clinging coins of commerce. Dragonkind doesn’t have any such things. Now that we have a break, he wished to escort me.”
The captain was too mused in himself to be conversing with a dragon to respond.
“Is that all?” The warrior responded with a smug smile, “Are you sure it wasn’t the gold saucer ticket you found rummaging through my belongings?”
“I,” Her nose flared in embarrassment, and she tilted her head up and away, “I can have multiple reasons.”
He laughed and rubbed her neck to cheer her up. “Let’s just hurry and get to the inn. I can introduce you to Momodi.”
The captain waved them off to let them walk the streets. “You know your way around. I’ll let the other blades know to not pester you anymore.” He then turned his attention and whistled to the two men who were scratching their heads in disbelief at what just happened.
Ehll’s head looked as if it was going to fall off. She bobbed up, down, left, and right like a lost chicken. There were so many more humans here than in any of the other kingdoms. Her gaze shifted up to the heavens and saw humans leaning out of the tall domiciles. Pinching clothing on wires to dry in the sun. Her wings flexed out in anticipation to fly up and greet the humans, but the quick hand of her mate stopped her from taking flight.
“Let’s not fly here, we’re already getting a lot of eyes.”
“Aw, but it looks like fun up there. So many people…”
Her young dragon nature needed to be held back. She was like a freshly hatched dragonet exploring for the first time. The warrior sighed and kept by her side. He didn’t want to explain how there was still a massive underworld network still operating in the city. Many of them are still holding grudges. His attention snapped back to his dragon when she shoved her bulk into him.
“Relax,” she thrummed, “You’re aether is flaring like you’re in battle. Nothing is going to happen.”
“I know…”
“It’s our time off, so let’s treat it as such,” she slid around to give him a tail hug. “Look at that building. It looks fancy.”
They passed by a small fountain flanked by staircases that lead to a building with high-quality silk tapestries hung delicately on the front. In the center of these decorations were the scales of commerce. The warrior gestured toward the building, “That’s the Quicksand. It’s the inn we’re going to be staying in.”
“It looks inviting, warmer than Ishgard buildings with their dark broody colors.”
As soon as the door cracked open, they could hear the hustle and bustle of new friendships being made and plans forged. Music played in the center of the lobby and adventurers of all kinds were drinking and eating to their heart’s content. The dragoness was quite amused that even the warrior of light started in such company.
Unfortunately, the guests were less amused. The music stopped with an ear-scraping screech of a violin. The absolute silence that followed would make the void jealous. Before the crowd could figure out if they should scream in terror or grab their weapons the warrior stepped in front of the baffled Ehll Tou. He stood steadfast to guard against anyone that would cause trouble.
The awkward silence was broken by a flood of footsteps from paladins. The royal guards had surrounded the warrior and the dragon. They stood waiting for an order without weapons were drawn. The warrior knew some of these individuals during his training. They smiled warmly at the man with no intent on fighting. The warrior lowered his guard.
From the corner of the lobby, light footsteps were echoing across the hard surface. The closer they came the more distinct they were. Guards snapped to attention. Then she stomped her way into view, demanding the attention of everyone in the lobby. She was none other than Nanamo Ul Namo the sultana of the great city of Ul’dah.
With express intent, she marched through the center of the lobby directly toward the warrior of light. He swallowed as if he was going to get hit with a blow. Most seasoned adventurers learned the difference between lalafell moods by the way they step. This woman was angry.
“This is how you announce your visit?!” Nanamo shouted. “You arrive, start an uproar, scare my citizens half to death! Do you know how worried I was?!”
The warrior closed his eyes from the verbal beratement, “I…”
“Excuses! Oh, great warrior of light! Hero of the star! Champion of Ul’dah! Friend and trusted confidant!” The lalafell smiled as tears trailed down her face. She opened her arms as wide as they could go. “I demand a hug and tales of your adventures!”